Released on: January 11, 2008, 6:02 am

Press Release Author: The Art Institutes

Industry: Apparel & Fashion

Press Release Summary: The Art Institutes 2008 Passion for Fashion Competition
winners announced!

Press Release Body: [PITTSBURGH, JANUARY 10, 2008] - Only in high school and already
determined to have a career in fashion design, 18-year-old Tanya Lund is one step
closer to making her dream a reality.

The Spokane, Washington teenager won a full-tuition scholarship to study Fashion
Design at The Art Institute of Seattle in The Art Institutes Passion for Fashion
Competition held recently in New York City.

Open to high school seniors in the U.S. and Canada, The Art Institutes Passion for
Fashion Competition awarded two grand-prize winners full-tuition scholarships to
study Fashion Design or Fashion Marketing & Merchandising or Fashion Retail
Management at one of 26 Art Institute locations with Fashion programs across North
America.

In addition to her full scholarship, Lund will attend Fashion Week in New York City
in February 2008 and meet staff at Seventeen magazine. Lund's winning design is a
medieval-inspired evening gown, titled "Elegantly Goth," a knee-length gray, wine
and white dress with a long train, fitted bodice and brooch.

Second prize in the Fashion Design category went to Victoria Hughes of Roswell,
Georgia. Victoria received a $5,000 tuition scholarship to The Art Institute of New
York City for her orange and yellow evening gown inspired by Janis Joplin and other
bohemian styles.

In third place, Hayden, Idaho teen Caitlin Nolan won a $4,000 tuition scholarship to
The Art Institute of Portland for her "menswear inspired" tuxedo dress.

In the Fashion Marketing & Merchandising and Fashion Retail Management category,
Renee Topete from San Diego, California won first prize for her "Making a
Difference" belt concept, to create belts out of recycled products.

Topete receives a full-tuition scholarship to study at The Art Institute of
California - San Diego and will join Lund in New York City for Fashion Week. The
judges were impressed by Topete's environmentally friendly ideas to promote the
business of fashion.

Natalia Lagunas of Blue Island, Illinois took second prize and a $5,000 tuition
scholarship to study at The Illinois Institute of Art - Chicago in the Fashion
Marketing & Merchandising and Fashion Retail Management category.

In third place, with a $4,000 tuition scholarship to study at The Art Institute of
Atlanta is Lauren Lawson of Cumming, Georgia.

"We were hugely impressed by this year's entries," said Bruce E. Dempsey, Vice
President, Academic Affairs Specialist for The Art Institutes. "An incredible
amount of time, research and care went into the creation of the entries into this
year's competition," he said. The purpose behind the scholarship competition,
Dempsey explained, is to encourage young fashion talent at the high school level.

For more information on The Art Institutes Passion for Fashion Competition, visit
http://www.artinstitutes.edu/Competitions/PassionForFashion.aspx?prid=p4f_0108_006_pr.

The Art Institutes (http://www.artinstitutes.edu) is a system of over 40 education
institutions located throughout North America, providing an important source of
design, media arts, fashion and culinary arts professionals.
###


Contact:
Jacquelyn Muller
Vice President, Public Relations
The Art Institutes
412.995.7262
jpmuller@aii.edu

Devra Pransky
Public Relations Specialist
The Art Institutes
412.995.7685
dpransky@aii.edu

Web Site: http://www.artinstitutes.edu/Competitions/PassionForFashion

Contact Details: Jacquelyn P. Muller
Vice President, Public Relations
The Art Institutes
210 Sixth Avenue, 33rd Floor
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
412.995.7262
jpmuller@aii.edu